Burnham Makes First Foreign Trip to Kyiv, Reaffirming UK Support on Ukraine's 35th Independence Day
Updated
Updated · bbc.co.uk · Aug 23
Burnham Makes First Foreign Trip to Kyiv, Reaffirming UK Support on Ukraine's 35th Independence Day
3 articles · Updated · bbc.co.uk · Aug 23
Summary
Monday's Kyiv visit will be Andy Burnham's first foreign trip as prime minister, with plans to restate that British backing for Ukraine "will not waver".
The trip comes after weeks of intensified Russian strikes, including a Friday attack on a shopping centre that killed at least 16 people, sharpening the backdrop for Burnham's message.
Burnham is due to chair his first "coalition of the willing" meeting in Kyiv, join independence day events and accept an award on behalf of the British people for support to Ukraine.
Britain is also set to let MBDA declassify information on UK components in the Scalp missile, as France considers local assembly lines in Ukraine for the long-range weapon.
The visit follows Russian warnings over British drones used by Ukraine and comes as Moscow has confirmed its ambassador to the UK has left London without a named replacement.